The first full moon of 2026
By Rose Smith
The first full moon of 2026 is set to stir emotions and reveal hidden truths as the Wolf Moon rises in Cancer.
This lunar event will set a powerful tone for the year ahead, by heightening emotional awareness, clarifying personal priorities, and offering a rare opportunity to manifest intentions.
The full moon in Cancer shines a light on our emotional landscape, encouraging self-reflection, healing, and fresh starts.
It’s a time to honour your feelings while balancing your head and heart, and to set intentions for the year ahead.
Cancer, a cardinal water sign, is deeply associated with home, family, and inner security.
Because the full moon appears in this nurturing sign, people may feel their sensitivity heightened, with emotions bubbling to the surface.
This is when subconscious feelings can emerge unexpectedly.
While this may bring tension, it also provides an opportunity to assess relationships, home life, and emotional priorities for the months
to come.
This year’s first full moon is particularly potent due to the presence of a Minor Grand Trine – a harmonious planetary alignment between Saturn conjunct Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto.
This alignment of planets at the end of the solar system will blend practical discipline, spiritual insight, and inspired action, creating a favourable energy to bring dreams into reality.
Whether you want to start a new job, improve a relationship, or refresh your home life, now is the time to set intentions and plan for tangible results.
The first month of 2026 acts as a template for the entire year, making this lunation especially important.
Think in terms of yearly, quarterly, monthly, and weekly goals. Small, consistent actions, like cleaning and organising your space or prioritising personal projects, can ripple out into meaningful change.
Write down the things that matter most to you – this full moon supports turning your desires into achievable steps.
Adding to the lunar intensity, the Moon in Cancer is opposite a strong Capricornian planetary party, including Mars, the Sun, Venus, and Mercury.
This creates a powerful push-pull between emotional needs and external responsibilities.
Many of us will review how to balance work and rest, ambition and self-care, outer success and inner peace.
The lesson is to respond rather than react, and to create boundaries that support your emotional wellbeing.
All star signs will feel the full moon’s energy, but cardinal signs Aries, Libra, and Capricorn, and water signs Scorpio, Pisces, and Cancer itself, are likely to experience the intensity most strongly.
This is a good time to pause before acting: heartfelt conversations, self-care, and mindful reflection will help navigate these heightened emotional tides.
Transpersonal planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are channelling energy that helps us turn inspiration into action.
These are the planets operate beyond day-to-day events, shaping long-term change, collective themes and profound inner transformation for individuals over longer time periods.
Even though they are so far from Earth at the end of our solar system, many people only feel their effects when intense events occur.
Right now, they are focused on helping us manifest our dreams in a subtle but powerful way.
This full moon was traditionally called the Wolf Moon because wolves were said to howl during the deep winter months.
It reaches its peak on Saturday, January 3 at 9:02pm AEDT, offering a powerful starting point for reflection, planning, and emotional alignment.
Whatever you start now can influence the rest of the year, so light a candle, make space for yourself, and allow the intuitive, nurturing energy of Cancer to guide you back to what truly matters.
What does the Wolf Moon in Cancer have in store for your star sign?
Aries (March 21 to April 19)
Aries (March 21 to April 19): Home and career are having a loud conversation under this Cancer Full
Moon. Emotions about family, roots and where you belong might bubble up.
Meanwhile there’s a
pile up of planets opposite the Full Moon pushing you to keep climbing with career or public life.
Authority figures might also feature wanting you to do even more.
You might feel torn between
nurturing yourself and proving yourself. So, let feelings guide, not derail, your ambitions.
A private
release or honest talk at home clears the way for a public breakthrough.
You’re redefining what
“success” means and it must now include emotional safety and some sort of personal life.
A little bit of balance does wonders now.
Taurus (April 20 to May 20)
Taurus (April 20 to May 20): This Full Moon engages both your mind and mouth, and they are extra
busy! Conversations, emails, siblings or neighbours could stir big feelings, especially concerning your
local area.
Across the sky, opposite planets are steering you toward bigger horizons – travel, study,
teaching or spiritual growth.
Old beliefs may clash with current facts. Don’t cling to comfort if it
keeps you small.
Speak your truth kindly, then follow the path that feels both meaningful and
mentally nourishing.
The world is a big place and it’s your turn to find your proper place in it.
However, that doesn’t mean you need to lose touch with your foundations and who you are!
Gemini (May 21 to June 20)
Gemini (May 21 to June 20): The Cancer Full Moon in your 2nd house spotlights money, self-worth
and what you truly value.
You may have a financial realisation or emotional reaction around earnings
or possessions.
Maybe some things are just more important than money?
Meanwhile, there’s a pile
of planets opposite the Full Moon doing their thing to uncover deep intensity and maybe even a
secret or two?
Shared resources, debts, taxes, inheritances or intimate entanglements are all fair
game for these planets to activate.
Power dynamics around giveandtake are exposed. Ask yourself:
do I feel valued and am I valuing myself?
Release an old money story that doesn’t suit you now.
Cancer (June 21 to July 22)
Cancer (June 21 to July 22): This Full Moon in your sign is like an emotional super spotlight on your
house of identity and appearance. Feelings you’ve tucked away demand expression.
Opposite,
there’s a serious bunch of planets turning up the volume in relationships – personal, professional or
contractual.
You’re seeing clearly where you’ve overfunctioned, underreceived or outgrown certain
situations.
Let this time be a reset.
Honour who you’re becoming, not just who you’ve been.
As you
step into greater authenticity, your partnerships can either deepen or gracefully realign.
Releasing what no longer serves you creates space for relationships built on genuine equality and mutual
respect.
Leo (July 23 to August 22)
Leo (July 23 to August 22): This Cancer Full Moon illuminates your need for rest, solitude and to find
out what’s hidden beneath the surface.
Perhaps, you’re now craving retreat, reflection or spiritual
renewal – just listen to that inner whisper.
Meanwhile, planets opposite your ruler the Moon, are
influencing your daily work, health, wellbeing, and service.
There’s tension between needing space
and needing structure. So, honour both and have both.
A health insight, workplace shift or daily
ritual adjustment will bring some clarity.
This is your time to release what exhausts you and to
rebuild the daily routines that actually nourish your soul, not just your schedule.
Virgo (August 23 to September 22)
Virgo (August 23 to September 22): The Cancer Full Moon shines a light on your friendships,
community and hopes for the future.
Group dynamics, shared dreams or a close friendship stir
emotional waves.
Simultaneously, there’s a heap of planets opposite igniting creativity, romance and
selfexpression.
You’re balancing belonging with standing out.
A friendship may deepen or transform;
a creative project moves forward.
You might also have a need to socialise more, meet new people or
get in touch with your true desires and aspirations.
Release connections built on old versions of
yourself and lean into communities that mirror your authentic wishes.
Libra (September 23 to October 22)
Libra (September 23 to October 22): This Cancer Full Moon brightens your career, reputation and
public presence.
Professional recognition or a milestone surfaces emotions you didn’t expect.
Opposite, multiple planets anchor you to family, home and private foundations.
Career ambitions
and family needs are wrestling for your attention.
A work breakthrough may require a homelife
adjustment, or vice versa.
The invitation?
Build a public life that aligns with your private values.
Your
reputation grows strongest when it’s rooted in genuine purpose, not performance.
But hey, you
already know that so learn to balance both career/public life and home/family.
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21): The Cancer Full Moon illuminates themes of learning, travel,
beliefs and general expansion.
A spiritual insight, educational pursuit or wanderlust awakens
something in you.
Concurrently, many planets are activating your zone of communication and mind.
You’re buzzing with ideas but also questioning old truths.
Travel, study, publish or teach what you’re
discovering now. Let curiosity override certainty.
This is your season to expand your worldview,
speak your evolving philosophy and encourage the growth that requires leaving some old beliefs
behind.
Broadening your life horizons is on the cards now, so flow with it rather than resisting.
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)
Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21): This Full Moon is all about your shared resources,
intimacy, transformation and what lies beneath.
Financial entanglements, inheritance matters, taxes
or deep relationship matters might also surface.
Emotions can run intense now.
Opposite, a bunch of
planets have other plans and sharpen your focus on personal finances, self-worth and what you own
outright.
You’re learning the difference between merging and losing yourself.
A money conversation,
debt settlement or intimate boundary becomes necessary and healing.
Release fear around
interdependence and step into balanced exchange where both people gain.
Capricorn (December 22nd to January 19)
Capricorn (December 22nd to January 19): The Cancer Full Moon illuminates your committed
partnerships, one-on-one relationships – both business and personal.
A significant other or key
relationship demands honesty and emotional presence.
Maybe it feels heavy and you’re feeling the
weight of connection?
Meanwhile, there’s a planetary party opposite amplifying your personal
power, presence and sense of self.
You’re becoming more assertive, authentic and unapologetically
you and your relationships must adapt or evolve.
This is your reset moment.
Real partnerships thrive
when both people prioritise their own growth.
Lead with integrity; let love follow.
Aquarius (January 20th to February 18)
Aquarius (January 20th to February 18): Daily wellness, work routines, pets and service to others
are on your agenda now.
Health insights, workplace shifts or self-care breakthroughs may emerge
emotionally.
You’re recognising what drains you versus nourishes you.
Opposite, a multiplicity of
planets energise your sector of rest, spirituality and the deeper unseen realms.
Perhaps you’re torn
between doing and being, between productivity and surrender?
The wise answer: build a life where
discipline and devotion dance together.
Refine your routines, but also protect your inner sanctum –
the true you within.
Wellness honours both your earthly obligations and your Soul’s need for
stillness.
Pisces (February 19 to March 20)
Pisces (February 19 to March 20): Now creativity, romance, joy and self-expression become more
important. Love, artistic projects or spontaneity might stir deep emotions.
You may also wish to live
closer to the world of the child bringing more playfulness into your life.
Indulge and be young again
because your heart wants to expand.
Meanwhile, many planets opposite the Full Moon activate your
sense of community, friendship and collective vision.
Personal joy and group belonging are
negotiating between themselves.
You’re discovering which friendships celebrate your light and
which dim it.
Create, love, play – but surround yourself with people who genuinely cheer you on.
Release relationships that ask you to shrink.
About Rose Smith
Rose Smith is a leading Australian spiritualist with more than 30years’ professional experience
working as a psychic, spiritual healer and teacher, and intuitive astrologer.
Rose currently runs
Absolute Soul Secrets – the largest psychic network in the southern hemisphere.
Prior to this she
worked as a counselor in a local women’s health centre and tutored in ethics and counselling at
Southern Cross University.
Rose has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University
of Canberra and a BA majoring in psychology from Charles Sturt University.
For more information
visit Rose’s websites www.absolutesoulsecrets.com, www.rosesmith.com/ or her popular YouTube
channel www.YouTube.com/AbsoluteSoulSecrets.
